An inspired presidential choice

April 11, 2006

Far be it from us to boast, but in the 21st Century the Chicago Tribune is three for three in successful presidential endorsements. George W. Bush got our nod twice and the nation concurred. (OK, nitpickers. It was the Supreme Court and the Electoral College that put Bush over the top in 2000, not the majority of voters.)

On Sunday we scored again. Matthew V. Santos, the Tribune's surprise Democratic choice in the presidential battle against Republican Arnold Vinick, was formally elected by the scriptwriters of NBC's "West Wing" in a nail-biter that came down to a few thousand votes in Nevada.

For those who haven't followed the plot twists this season, here's a recap:

The race to succeed two-term incumbent Jed Bartlet pitted Santos, a congressman played by Jimmy Smits, against Vinick, a senator played by Alan Alda. Vinick grabbed the early lead. But the race tightened around the time that, as written into the script, the Tribune endorsed Santos.

"It's gotta be the Trib," declared Santos' running mate, Leo McGarry, when new polls showed that the campaign had whittled a 9-point Vinick lead in Illinois down to 4 points.

Sadly, that episode appeared in December just days before the actor who played McGarry, John Spencer, died of a heart attack. That real life tragedy factored into Sunday's election episode. Spencer's character suffered a fatal heart attack as voters headed to the polls.

This election was pure fiction. It's hard to believe presidential contenders locked in a razor-thin battle would come off as gentlemanly and conciliatory as did the Vinick and Santos characters. Both professed to be appalled at the prospect of a protracted, Bush/Gore-style legal battle. This is how idealistic Hollywood wants things to be, not how they are in the true snakepit of national politics. (Yes, we know. Hollywood? Idealistic?)

We're thrilled, if not humbled, by the election outcome. The Tribune rarely endorses Democrats for president. The last time was in 1872. But President-elect Santos--provided, of course, he continues to act in ways this page can abide--clearly has the makings of greatness.

Too bad we'll never find out how great the greatness. After this season, NBC cancels the show.